This chapter is brought to you by Fatima, thanks for the ko-fi! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Chapter 70 – Visa.
Sang Ye curled up on the leather seat in the back of the car, his hand still covering his mouth, the small area of skin there tingling and feeling warm.
Outside the window, the streetlights passed by one by one, casting colorful reflections in the boy’s eyes as he gazed outside, like the fading glow of starlight.
Sang Ye felt embarrassed, but at the same time, he was seriously thinking about what to eat tonight.
Yet, he felt that what he ate didn’t really matter. He wasn’t hungry, he didn’t want anything, and he just wanted to talk to Tan Mo in a quiet environment. Or even better, to not say anything at all, just to feel Tan Mo’s presence, which would make him very happy.
But then there was Xiao Pai…
Sang Ye furrowed his brows slightly.
But he quickly became optimistic again.
It was just one more person, it wouldn’t make a difference.
They could go to one of those restaurants where the main characters on TV shows go on dates.
After making up his mind, Sang Ye felt a warm flush spread across his face.
—Of course, it wasn’t because he was thinking about a date that he chose that kind of place. Why would he want to date Tan Mo? It was because those places were quieter.
Finally, they passed the congested area and could head into the city. Tan Mo glanced in the rearview mirror and asked, “Is there anything you want to eat?”
Sang Ye, holding his phone, sat up with a flushed face, leaning forward and saying, “There’s a place here…”
Just then, Xiao Pai’s phone rang.
He picked it up, shouting, “Hello? What happened to Old Hu? …You’re here? …Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re picking up Bai Mao, we’re about to go eat… almost there, okay, I’ll check…”
He looked at Tan Mo and said, “Brother, Old Hu’s back at the base. He’s asking if we can pick him up to eat with us.”
Tan Mo glanced at the sign, noting the bright left-turn indicator.
“Tell him to wait at the gate. We’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay!”
Tan Mo turned his attention to the rearview mirror and asked Sang Ye, “What restaurant were you saying?”
Sang Ye brushed the hair from his eyelid, then reclined back into the seat, holding up his phone to cover his face.
“I… I want to eat something else now. Let’s pick up Hu Fu first.”
Five minutes later.
Hu Fu got into the car.
The car started moving again.
Sang Ye nestled back in his seat, biting the collar of his T-shirt, swiping the screen with his fingertips.
He scrolled through the list but couldn’t find anything he liked more. He brought up the French restaurant he had saved earlier, and the more he looked at the white tablecloths, roses, and grand chandeliers in the pictures, the more romantic it seemed.
It was just four people, a bit crowded, but not a big deal.
Sang Ye released the collar of his shirt, about to tell Tan Mo.
At that moment, Hu Fu answered his phone: “Hello? Ji Feng, what’s up?”
Sang Ye turned his head with a “click!” and looked over: “…”
“Oh, yeah, we just left… Okay, I’ll ask,” Hu Fu said, grabbing the back of the front seat. “Tan Shen, Ji Feng and Jing Cao just came back. They’re asking if they can join us.”
Tan Mo replied, “There’s no room in the car.”
Sang Ye let out a breath of relief.
From the phone’s speaker, Jifeng’s loud voice rang out: “No need to pick us up! We’ll take a taxi ourselves!”
Sang Ye: “…”
The news about dinner seemed to have taken on a life of its own, spreading like wildfire.
When Sang Ye sat in the familiar old Chongqing hotpot restaurant, looking at the table full of over ten people, he was in a daze for quite a while.
What’s going on with this club?
It’s only the 6th, and everyone’s already back.
And they’re doing team-building as soon as they arrive.
A drink was placed in front of him, and Sang Ye looked up.
Tan Mo, sitting across the round table, nodded his chin toward him in the noisy crowd, signaling for him to stop staring and just take the drink.
The drink was ordered just for Sang Ye by Tan Mo. Everyone else was drinking alcohol, even his peer, E Lan, was drinking.
Sang Ye picked up the cup, looking sullen.
It wasn’t that he minded what he was drinking, but the distance between them felt too great.
…
After the hotpot meal, Sang Ye returned to the base. He pushed his suitcase to the practice room first, intending to hand out the souvenirs now that everyone was there.
He had mainly brought pea cakes, sesame cakes, dried apricots, and some assorted snack gift boxes, with everyone getting a share.
He started by distributing to the second team.
Everyone was very surprised to receive the specialties brought by the boss.
Ji Feng immediately opened a packet of dried apricots and, after finishing, his eyes lit up. “Delicious!”
Others also took some from Ji Feng.
Unlike many regions that only sell packaged local specialties, the products Sang Ye brought were full of flavor.
Take the dried apricots, for instance—the fruit is plump, sweet without being overly rich, and you can tell right away that it’s not mass-produced by a big factory. The craftsmanship is very refined.
Ji Feng opened another pack of sesame buns: “Looks like we’ve got breakfast sorted for the next week.”
After Sang Ye finished distributing the gifts, he closed the suitcase and was about to head downstairs.
“Wait, wait, wait, I’ll do it!” Ji Feng hurriedly offered to help, carrying it all the way to the first team’s practice room.
By the time Tan Mo parked the car and returned, he was already sitting in his spot, playing with his phone. Occasionally, he’d glance up and give a quick look at Sang Ye, who was crouching next to his suitcase, organizing his things.
Sang Ye had handed out the gifts to Xiao Pai and Hu Fu, and now the suitcase was empty.
He packed it up and placed it by the wall.
Xiao Pai, Hu Fu, and Ji Feng had gathered together, discussing which item tasted the best.
Sang Ye slumped down into his chair, taking a breather.
Tan Mo returned to his desk and silently opened his laptop.
Tan Mo had been waiting since Sang Ye was still with the second team. He’d waited for a long time, and by the time everyone else had received their local gifts, Sang Ye was the only one without any.
Once Sang Ye caught his breath, he sat up and glanced at Tan Mo’s somewhat indifferent profile. He turned, reached for his backpack resting on the chair, and took out two small containers. Then he stood and walked to the side, clasping his hands behind his back.
Tan Mo was still browsing the forums, reading discussions about the other regional intercontinental competitions, seemingly unaware of Sang Ye’s approach.
Sang Ye’s face turned slightly red. Seeing that Tan Mo wasn’t paying attention to him, he turned to the side and gently nudged the man.
Tan Mo glanced at him, his expression unchanged, and then looked away. “What’s up?”
Sang Ye, aware of the others still being around, whispered, “I brought you a local specialty.”
Tan Mo let go of his mouse, turned around, and looked Sang Ye up and down. “Da Tong beauty?”
“What’s this?!” Sang Ye’s face turned bright red, and he didn’t dare to argue loudly. He shoved the container into Tan Mo’s arms, then quickly sat down at his spot, pretending to be busy tidying up his desk.
Tan Mo steadied the container and looked down.
One box contained dried apricot slices.
The other box was neatly packed with pea cake—despite coming all the way from Shanxi, it hadn’t crumbled into powder, which showed how well it had been protected during the trip.
So, it wasn’t that he didn’t bring a gift for him; it was just that it had been repackaged thoughtfully.
Tan Mo, the occasionally petty man, slid across the chair and bumped into Sang Ye’s shoulder.
Sang Ye bit his lip, his face still red.
The two sat side by side, very close to each other.
Tan Mo, with a hint of playful questioning, asked, “Why is mine different from everyone else’s?”
Sang Ye hesitated for a moment before replying, “My mom made it… I said you don’t like sweet things, so she used very little sugar.” He quickly added, “She used her own method to improve it, and you can even taste a hint of cream.”
Tan Mo shook the box with the dried apricots inside. “Did your mom make this too?”
Sang Ye nodded with a quiet “mm,” resting his face on his hands. The boldness of this special treatment made him feel a little embarrassed.
Everyone else’s gifts were store-bought, but Tan Mo’s was handmade by Fang Yuerong, with no food additives, and it was likely to spoil easily, so the quantity was less than the others’.
Tan Mo opened the box and took a bite of the pea cake.
It melted in his mouth, with the natural sweetness of the peas and a faint creamy taste—just the kind of dessert that would suit Tan Mo’s tastes.
He tilted his head to look at Sang Ye and asked, “Did you talk to your mom about me?”
Sang Ye buried his face slightly in his collar and mumbled, “I did…”
Tan Mo wiped the crumbs off his lips, licked his teeth, and asked with interest, “What did you say?”
The three others were still noisily arguing in the back, separated by an aisle.
“Can I have this box?”
“Don’t you already have one?”
“I could finish this entire box tonight, it’s that good.”
“If you like it, just scan it on Taobao yourself.”
“I did, but I couldn’t find it.”
Sang Ye tugged at his reddened ear and muttered, “I told my mom that you’ve always taken good care of me…”
Tan Mo raised an eyebrow, not surprised.
So, this was a gift of gratitude from Sang Ye’s mom.
He handed the box to Sang Ye and said, “Do you want a piece?”
“No, I’ve had too much at home.” Sang Ye waved his hand, then glanced at Tan Mo, nervously asking, “Does it taste good?”
“It’s delicious.” Tan Mo threw the remaining half into his mouth, closed the container, and pushed it back. “Please thank Auntie for me. I really like it.”
Sang Ye felt relieved and happy at the same time. He took out his phone to message his mom.
S.：[Mom, the captain ate the snacks you made. He said he really likes them and wants to thank you.]
Fang Yuerong replied quickly.
Yue Rong：[Tell him to eat more.]
Yue Rong：[😊]
The yellow soy bean emoji is often seen as sarcastic, so Fang Yuerong had specifically sent that emoji, which at first glance seemed a bit out of place.
However, nowadays, parents’ understanding of emojis is different. They might use “waving goodbye” as a greeting, so Sang Ye didn’t think much of it.
The next day.
With nothing to do after returning early, everyone gathered in the practice room to watch shows and play games.
Tan Mo entered the practice room a bit later, dressed in a black suit.
“Hey! Handsome!” Xiao Pai greeted with a bright smile.
Sang Ye knew that Tan Mo was going to a wedding today. As Tan Mo walked into the room, Sang Ye quickly turned his head back to the computer, but after firing five shots in the simulator, he only hit one.
Sang Ye couldn’t help but glance at Tan Mo again.
The man’s hair was slightly messy, and if someone didn’t know better, they might think he had styled it that way on purpose. He looked like he hadn’t fully woken up. His peach blossom eyes were a little drowsy. With his naturally good bone structure, he looked tall and striking, especially when he walked with his legs spread apart, which made him appear even longer. The atmosphere he gave off in a suit was intense.
Tan Mo sat down in a chair, slouched, and with a faint smile in his eyes, looked at Sang Ye. “Do I look good?”
Sang Ye turned his head back, pressed his lips together, and continued firing, saying nothing. However, the redness in his ears gave away his answer.
Tan Mo opened the drawer and took out the box of pea cakes.
Having just woken up without breakfast, he was planning to snack a bit before going to the wedding for the main meal.
“Do you have anything else today?” Tan Mo asked as he opened the container.
Sang Ye shook his head. “No, just practice.”
“Practice on your day off?” Tan Mo suddenly asked. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Huh?”
Just as the simulator session ended, Sang Ye looked over to the side.
“Come with me to the wedding,” Tan Mo said. “I can bring one more person.”
Sang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. “I… I’m going? But I don’t even know anyone there.”
Tan Mo said it casually, “I’ll introduce you.”
Sang Ye’s face heated up as he lowered his gaze.
A wedding is a gathering of family and friends, and Tan Mo was going to introduce him to people there—this clearly meant something.
Sang Ye tightened his fingers. “It’s fine, I’ll just eat with Xiao Pai and the others at noon.”
Tan Mo nodded, not insisting.
He held the string of a kite, and when one end started to tighten, he would loosen it to let the kite fly further, making sure it didn’t snap.
Xiao Pai noticed the container in Tan Mo’s hand and leaned in. “What’s this? Pea cakes? Why are yours different from ours? Is it good? I’ll try one.”
Xiao Pai rambled on as he reached for one.
But in the next second, his hand was slapped away with a “smack.”
“Brother!” Xiao Pai grumbled, covering his hand. “What’s wrong with eating one? Why are you so stingy!”
Tan Mo didn’t offer any explanation, turning his back on Xiao Pai.
—Do you understand what mother-in-law’s love is?
Of course, Tan Mo wouldn’t shamelessly say that aloud; it was something he quietly enjoyed in his heart.
Tan Mo had only tried one piece last night, so there were still plenty left.
He picked up another piece of the pea cake, but this time, after one bite, he noticed something odd.
Tan Mo paused, lowering his lashes.
A small rolled-up piece of paper was poking out from the cross-section of the pea cake.
“…”
When Tan Mo had eaten Chinese food abroad, some restaurants would give out fortune cookies, with a printed message inside, usually a blessing.
But this was his first time finding a note inside Chinese pastry—it was quite fresh.
Tan Mo carefully pulled the paper out of the cake and unfolded it. It had some grease stains, but the elegant and firm handwriting was still clear.
—[Be good to my son.]
Tan Mo raised an eyebrow, realizing this must be a note from Sang Ye’s mother.
It was a cute way for her to remind him to take care of Sang Ye.
The back of the note had faint writing showing through.
Tan Mo flipped it over.
—[Or I’ll chop you with a knife.]
“…………”
The sweet image of her just a moment ago instantly turned into someone holding a knife.
Tan Mo slowly blinked, struggling to swallow the half piece of pea cake in his mouth, then turned his head to look away.
Sang Ye noticed Tan Mo’s gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Looking at the boy’s innocent face, Tan Mo licked the corner of his lips and said, “Nothing.”
He had a feeling that when Sang Ye talked about him in front of his parents, it wasn’t just about being cared for.
Also, he suddenly realized where Sang Ye’s occasionally fierce personality came from.
…
After the long holiday, the training matches resumed, but as the team heading to the World Championship, WLG not only had to compete in domestic training matches, but in the last month, they also started playing ranked matches on foreign servers to familiarize themselves with the playstyles of other regions.
In one four-player match, they encountered the European team HK, and it was the full starting lineup.
HK had won the World Championship for two consecutive years, and every player was a big, bearded, tough guy. However, all these tough guys had a fondness for Hello Kitty. They couldn’t use the name directly, or they’d receive a lawyer’s letter from Disney, so they abbreviated their team name and designed a logo featuring an abstract cat head.
One of the team members, with the ID [woodhouse] gained many fans worldwide for his amazing shooting skills and an accuracy that couldn’t even be replicated by a cheat code.
In China, everyone affectionately called him “Brother Wu De.”
They discovered this team when Xiao Pai was wandering around the Y City area and was knocked down by Brother Wu De, who shot him from across the street with just two well-placed sniper shots.
Xiao Pai fell outside the wall, and even though they tried to block the smoke, they couldn’t help him.
“Don’t worry about me, anyone who takes this position is dead,” Xiao Pai crawled around on the ground.
Hu Fu was with Xiao Pai, and his position was quickly taken out as well.
Sang Ye, working with Tan Mo, knocked out two HK players. When he heard footsteps, he immediately noticed someone approaching his position at the two-story building.
He lay in wait by the door, and as the footsteps grew clearer, he timed it perfectly, leaned out, and fired a shot.
However, not only did the opponent block the corridor position and dodge the shot, but they also took away 120 of Sang Ye’s health.
No wonder they were once the world’s strongest team.
Sang Ye believed that his gun skills were the second best in PCL—Tan Mo was the best.
In front of the Korean team, he no longer feared Gal. While he couldn’t guarantee he would win every time, he was no longer as vulnerable as he used to be.
But facing Brother Wu De, his actual pressure in combat was even more terrifying than what he had seen in the videos.
Sang Ye threw a smoke grenade, filling the hallway with thick smoke.
Brother Wu De fired into the smoke, probing while also covering the edge of the smoke. The edge was the easiest place for an enemy to rush out from.
As the smoke began to clear, Brother Wu De moved closer to the room where Sang Ye was.
Suddenly, Sang Ye emerged from the room on the opposite side of the hallway and hit him from the side, eliminating him with his health barely hanging on.
Sang Ye had just used the smoke to shift his position.
He had taken a few shots and, worried about being heard, didn’t dare use any healing items.
“Impressive, Bai Mao!” Xiao Pai, who was spectating, commented, “Your form has been improving after the Intercontinental Championship.”
Sang Ye picked up some gear, his tone cold: “It’s nothing special.”
He hadn’t told anyone about his goal to win the World Championship, because everyone wanted to win.
But for Sang Ye, his motivation had changed.
Before, he wanted to win for idolizing someone, to make Talk happy.
Now, he still wanted to make Talk happy, but more than that, he was determined to win the World Championship for himself.
With such a crucial goal in mind, Sang Ye became even more motivated. His form and mentality were consistently sharp.
It was another Saturday. Tan Mo was attending an event and couldn’t join the training match, so Elan took his place. Sang Ye became the temporary team captain again.
Since they had the next day off, after the evening’s training match, everyone agreed to have a debriefing meeting followed by a barbecue outing.
Ever since the internal turbulence had settled, there were more opportunities for the first and second teams to collaborate. They frequently went out together to eat, and this month’s gatherings had already surpassed the total number from the past six months.
After turning off the lights in the meeting room, everyone watched the projection and listened to the coach’s analysis of areas for improvement.
As the meeting was nearing its end, Yu Haotian looked at his phone, his frown deepening.
Before the coach had even dismissed the meeting, he picked up the phone, his tone anxious: “What happened? Why was only this one rejected? Everyone submitted their materials together.”
All eyes turned toward him.
The coach knew something serious must have happened; otherwise, Yu Haotian wouldn’t be so anxious, so he didn’t interrupt him.
Yu Haotian held the phone, listening to the other side. After a while, his anxiety gradually turned into helplessness, and he finally said softly, “Okay, I’ll wait for your update.”
Yu Haotian hung up the phone with his head lowered.
The coach asked, “What happened?”
Yu Haotian sighed deeply and said, “Song’s visa got rejected.”
The room fell silent as everyone’s attention shifted to the young man sitting at the front of the conference table.
The PCG Global Invitational was taking place in Berlin, Germany, and a visa rejection meant he couldn’t go abroad, let alone compete.
Some of the veterans from both the first and second teams were stunned. They had been playing for over two years and had never experienced a visa rejection. They didn’t expect such a low-probability event to affect one of their teammates.
After the summer and intercontinental tournaments, Sang Ye had become a key player in the team. If he couldn’t compete, it would be like WLG losing half of its risk-bearing capacity.
The coach grew anxious and asked Yu Haotian, “There’s still more than half a month. Can it be solved?”
“We’re trying to find a way, but there’s no quick fix.”
Though he said that, Yu Haotian’s mindset wasn’t much better than the coach’s.
Visa processing usually took at least a month. Solving the issue in just two weeks seemed difficult.
The team manager would be held accountable if a player couldn’t attend the competition.
The coach, worried about affecting the team, turned on the lights in the meeting room and said, “That’s it for today. Go back. Training will proceed as usual, and don’t worry about this matter…”
But when he looked up, he saw Sang Ye’s pale face, which had remained silent since the beginning.
…
On the way back, Miao Sen lowered his head and rubbed his neck, suddenly saying, “How about we don’t go tonight? We’ve been playing training matches all afternoon, so we’re tired. Ordering takeout is just the same.”
Xiao Pai and Ji Feng immediately nodded in agreement: “Yeah, yeah, at this hour, we’d probably have to wait for a table.”
Just as everyone was about to decide on this, Sang Ye put his hands in his pockets, walked past the group without lifting his head, and said coldly, “Let’s go.”
The others looked at each other, hesitating, “Oh… oh.”
Then they all followed.
When they arrived, there was no need to wait for a table, and the barbecue stall owner greeted them enthusiastically, showing them to their seats.
However, the atmosphere at the table wasn’t as lively as it had been earlier.
Everyone silently looked at the menu, silently checked items, and silently passed the menu around to see if there was anything else to add.
Xiao Pai looked up cautiously and asked, “Today… we’re just eating, no drinking, right?”
Miao Sen was about to nod.
But Sang Ye suddenly said, “Drink.”
“………”
Sang Ye snorted, “Don’t look at me, I’m fine. If you keep acting like this, I’ll leave.”
“No, no, no!” Ji Feng quickly turned to Xiao Pai, saying, “Check it all off! Get whatever you need! Eat and drink, what’s the big deal?”
As soon as Sang Ye made his declaration, the atmosphere at the table immediately lightened.
Xiao Pai said, “Bai Mao, there’s nothing good to drink here. Should I get you a cup of coconut juice?”
Usually, when eating out, Tan Mo would order drinks for Sang Ye separately, so after a few times, everyone remembered this.
But Sang Ye replied, “Just order beer.”
“……” Xiao Pai was caught off guard. He stopped halfway through checking the box, swallowed, and hesitated. Didn’t he just say he was fine…?
The owner brought a box of beer over to the table and took the menus to prepare the food.
Sang Ye opened a bottle, poured himself a full glass, then downed half of it in one go, commenting on the remaining half, “Not bad.”
He finished the rest of it as well.
Miao Sen looked a bit worried and, feeling uneasy, sent a message to Tan Mo under the table.
Miao Sen: [Barbecue stall. Come quickly.]
While eating, everyone chatted about random topics from all over the place—anything except the visa issue.
Sang Ye, after finishing two skewers of beef with his perfect set of teeth, suddenly asked, “Is getting a visa difficult?”
The table fell silent for a few seconds.
Xiao Pai took a sip of beer and answered honestly, “It’s kind of a gamble. It depends on the quota at different times, how strict the visa officer is, and how they assess immigration risks. Usually, it’s not a problem, but when it is, it can be a real headache.”
Hu Fu added, “Every year, there are pro players who get their visas denied. PUBG actually has it better since it’s a relatively new game. Back in 2012 and 2013, esports wasn’t taken seriously. League of Legends teams had it rough—getting blocked from traveling all the time because of this kind of nonsense.”
Ji Feng chimed in, “Remember the London tournament a couple of years ago? Two Vietnamese PUBG teams got their visas completely denied.”
Sang Ye asked, “So they just couldn’t go in the end?”
Ji Feng replied, “Yeah. When it’s close to Worlds, visa applications pile up. If you get rejected, you usually don’t have enough time to reapply.”
“But there are exceptions too!” Xiao Pai quickly added. “Anyway, there’s still time. Yu Gonggong will definitely do everything he can to fix this.”
Sang Ye bit the rim of his glass, nodding thoughtfully.
After a while, he sat up straight, bracing himself against the table, and raised his glass.
The white-haired boy’s face flushed from the alcohol—not just his cheeks, but even the corners of his eyes took on a rosy hue. A breeze stirred his hair, and in the mix of neon lights and the smoky haze of the barbecue stall, his cool, slightly hoarse voice rang out:
“If I can’t go, I’m counting on you all to carry my goal to the finish line.”
“What the hell, man!” Xiao Pai slapped his thigh and yelped. “It’s not even decided yet! Don’t talk like that!”
“It’s all the same.” Sang Ye’s dark pupils were calm. “Whoever plays, it’s the same. I’m really fine… Hurry up, my arm’s getting tired.”
Everyone, feeling both amused and a little heartbroken, lifted their glasses and clinked them together at the center of the table.
“Cheers—!!!“
…
When Tan Mo arrived at the barbecue stall, he saw Sang Ye smiling brightly.
The boy was clearly drunk. One hand propped up his flushed cheek as he watched Xiao Pai animatedly waving his arms around. After listening for a while, he grinned widely, revealing a sharp chin, and then raised his glass along with the others.
Tan Mo walked over.
Hu Fu’s side of the table spotted him first and called out, “God Tan!”
Sang Ye saw Tan Mo and quickly covered his mouth—he nearly spat out the sip of alcohol he hadn’t swallowed yet.
Jing Cao, who was sitting beside Sang Ye, instinctively scooted over to make room for Tan Mo.
Sang Ye’s face was still red, but he suddenly seemed sobered up. Even his posture became more proper and restrained.
Tan Mo pulled out a plastic chair and sat down.
Sang Ye glanced at him once, then again, before asking, “Should I order something for you?”
Without waiting for a response, he turned around to call for the lady boss.
But Tan Mo caught his hand, pulling it back and placing it under the table, gently holding it.
“I already ate outside.”
Sang Ye let out a soft “oh.”
After that, Tan Mo never let go of his hand.
With Tan Mo there, Sang Ye became quiet.
When everyone raised their glasses for another toast, he instinctively went to pick up his own, only for Tan Mo to take it away.
With nothing to do, Sang Ye simply stared blankly at the table.
The others continued chatting.
Tan Mo lowered his eyes and asked softly, “Your visa got denied?”
Sang Ye licked his lips, bit them briefly, then nodded. “Yeah.”
Tan Mo squeezed his soft palm and said, “It’s fine.”
Sang Ye wasn’t sure if Tan Mo meant the visa rejection wasn’t a big deal or that missing Worlds wasn’t a big deal. His mind was hazy, and he drooped his head.
Miao Sen checked the time and suggested, “It’s getting late. Should we head back?”
Immediately, everyone’s eyes turned to Tan Mo in unison.
Tan Mo let out a cold chuckle, leaned to the side, and pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his pants.
He hadn’t even taken a single bite of food before rushing over just to pay their bill.
Since Tan Mo needed to keep an eye on Sang Ye, Miao Sen took his place and went to settle the check.
Sang Ye tried to stand up but his legs gave out, and he collapsed back into his seat.
Feeling a little embarrassed, he smiled at Tan Mo beside him. “Let me rest for a bit.”
Tan Mo stood in front of Sang Ye, still holding his hand, and raised an eyebrow. “How much did you drink?”
Sang Ye rested his head against Tan Mo’s chest and mumbled, “Just a little… I can’t hold my liquor…”
Xiao Pai coughed and nudged an empty beer bottle under Sang Ye’s chair with his foot.
Tan Mo glanced over. The bottles were neatly arranged in a 4×4 formation.
Sixteen bottles.
Tan Mo roughly ruffled Sang Ye’s hair.
Unbelievable.
By the time everyone had paid and was ready to leave, Sang Ye was still sitting there, face buried against Tan Mo’s chest, unmoving.
Xiao Pai, slurring slightly, called out, “Bai Mao, let’s go…”
Before he could finish—
Sang Ye’s shoulders trembled, and then he suddenly wrapped his arms around Tan Mo’s waist.
Everyone sobered up instantly.
Out of sheer shock.
—They had never seen their tough guy cry before.
But soon, guilt crept in.
Miao Sen exchanged a silent glance with Tan Mo before leading the others away, giving them some space.
With Tan Mo’s arrival, all the strength left Sang Ye’s body.
His voice was hoarse as he mumbled, “I want to go to Worlds… I want to win the championship… I have to win…”
The more he spoke, the more frustrated he became.
Tan Mo sighed helplessly, patting the white-haired head, and repeated the same words:
“It’ll be fine.”
…
Sang Ye’s steps were so unsteady that Tan Mo had to support him as they walked.
The distance was too short to justify calling a cab, so they had no choice but to walk back to the base.
Tan Mo muttered to himself, “If your mom saw you like this, she’d probably chop me up with a knife…”
Sang Ye spotted a bench ahead and came to a halt. “Talk, I’m tired. I want to sit for a bit.”
They had taken a shortcut through an open-air public park, and at this late hour, the place was completely empty.
Tan Mo glanced ahead and saw that they were only a few steps away from the main road in front of the base. He said, “I’ll carry you. We’re almost there.”
“No, no, no, no, no.” Sang Ye furrowed his brows and shook his head stubbornly, pointing insistently at the bench. “I want to sit right here for a while.”
Tan Mo had no choice but to let him go.
Sang Ye gripped the back of the bench, inching his way toward it before finally plopping down with a relieved sigh. “Finally.”
Tan Mo rolled up his sleeves again. “What?”
“The base is full of people. No matter where we go, there’s always someone around…” Sang Ye mumbled as he leaned back, exhaling deeply. “Finally, it’s just the two of us.”
Tan Mo’s fingers paused mid-roll. He lifted his gaze to look at Sang Ye.
Sang Ye was staring up at the night sky, lost in thought. Suddenly, a shadow fell over him—Tan Mo’s face appeared above his.
Tan Mo knelt on one knee on the bench, hands braced on either side of Sang Ye against the backrest, leaning down toward him. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”
Sang Ye’s gaze was unfocused as he looked at Tan Mo, dazed for a moment. Then, he smiled, eyes curving. He nodded. “I do.”
As he spoke, he reached out, hooked his arms around Tan Mo’s neck, and pulled him down.
“I was thinking that day when we came back… if only it had been just the two of us in the car.”